Fluid leakage indicator



Oct. 20, 1953 c. w. cox ET AL FLUID LEAKAGE INDICATOR Filed July 19, 1951 INVENTOR-S. CHARLES w cox FRANC/ S A. DONOVAN JOHN T FRANTZ Patented Oct. 20, 1953 FLUD) LEAKAGE INDICATOR Charles W. Cox, Springfield, Pa., Francis A. Donovan, Wilmington, Del., and John T. Frantz, North Hills, Pa., assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1951, Serial No. 237,522

14 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) This invention relates to a fluid leakage indicator and more particularly to a device for determining when oil, which is employed as a lubricant in various machines and equipment for handling aqueous fluids or solutions, leaks into an aqueous fluid which it is desirous and/or necessary to keep free of contamination. Further, the invention relates to a device which, in addition to indicating when oil has leaked into an aqueous treating fluid or the like, also traps the oil up to a predetermined amount and prevents it going into a treating or other system.

Various aqueous treating baths and liquids are employed in many intricate processes throughout the chemical industry. In the majority of these processes, it is of extreme importance that such aqueous treating liquids and solutions be kept free of foreign matter and undesirable fluids in order to obtain a uniform and non-contaminated product. oil must be employed in the pumps for feeding the liquids and also in the moving parts of the machinery employed in carrying out the various steps of the above-mentioned processes. In such instances, it is necessary to closely guard against the oil finding its way into the treating liquids or chemicals involved in the processes, otherwise the ultimate product will become adulterated. Therefore, there is a need for some simple and easily installable means for quickly and easily observing the infiltration by the lubricating oil into the treating chemical or other fluid or solution so that such infiltration may be corrected'before serious damage occurs to the product.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus or devic which will indicate, or which will enable one to detect by visual means, the presence of a non-miscible fluid, such as oil, and the like, when present in a treating fluid or aqueous solution or a mixture of treating fluids of heavier specific gravity.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid leakage indicator which is simple in construction, easily and readily installed in existing fluid supply lines and which will also act as a trap for the undesirable fluid within certain predescribed limits.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description thereof hereinafter.

While the present invention is applicable to being used in any instance where there is danger of one undesirable and non-miscible liquid commingling with an aqueous fluid or treating liquid of heavier specific gravity, the invention will be As of necessity, lubricating described as it applies to the instance where oil contaminates a treating solution or solutions such as those employed in the rayon industry. As is well known, it is extremely important in producing fibers and filaments for making yarns and threads that they be kept fre of deleterious materials and particularly lubricating oils used in the fiber and filament producing apparatus. If any of the yarns or filaments are contaminated with oil, fabrics produced therefrom would be unsalable resulting in a great loss even though only a small portion of the yarns or filaments were so contaminated. It is to be understood, however, that this is merely intended for purposes of illustration and the invention is not to be limited thereby but only insofar as the same may be limited by the appended claims.

The objects of the present invention are in general accomplished by inserting in a fluid delivery line or conduit, a device comprising a transparent gage glass cylinder having a top and bottom cover, and a sleeve positioned internally of the cylinder and extending between the covers and havin a plurality of slots or openings spaced thereabout on the bottom edge thereof. The bottom cover has an extension projecting upwardly inside the sleeve and also has a downwardly extending portion which is threaded to fit into a pipe, conduit, bracket or the like. The upwardly extending projection or extension has an axial opening or bore therein which opens to the outside of the device and has a plurality of cooperating openings, perpendicular to the axial opening, communicating with the chamber formed by the sleeve, said openings being positioned adjacent the top of the extension or projection. The fluid or treating liquid is admitted to the chamber formed between the gage glass cylinder and sleeve in the top, bottom, or intermediate the top and bottom thereof and leaves by the axial opening in th extension. The oil or other undesirable non-miscible liquid can readily be seen since being of a lighter specific gravity than the treating fluid, it floats on top of the fluid in the outer chamber, 1. e., the above mentioned chamber formed between the gage glass cylinder and th sleeve.

In order to more clearly understand the following detailed description of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanyin drawing which is merely intended to be illustrative and not limitative, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a preferred form of the apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the device comprises a transparent glass or gage glass cylinder 3 which has a top cover 4 and a bottom cover 5 attached thereto. The glass cylinder :1 fits into the annular grooves 6 and I in the, covers 4 and 5, respectively, and is fitted against the askets 8 and 9 which are fitted into the grooves. 6 and I.

Extending upwardly from the top cover t is a projection 9a into which is fitted the flexible conduit 10. This comprises; the liquid inlet. If desired, the conduit IE! may be non-flexible such as a metal or glass pipe, and the like. Extend: ing downwardly from the bottom cover 5 and integrally attached thereto is a ihfifiadcd P29399- tion I l by means of which the device is fitted into the conduit 12 or any other device or apparatus to which the treating fluid must be directed.

Positi ned inter a y of the; as cylinderis. a sleeve .3 whi h fi s. ver an surro nds the. upwardly. xtend ng Porti n. of; projecti n t l the bottom cover 5. A iacen t e. ottom d eot the sleeve I3. a e a plura y of open n s l5. emaily paced th reabou T e. n oiect cn or xtension to has an penin r h re. 6.- therein. coincident with. its x sn the upper portion. or the ext nsi n. 1.4. there. are a lo ur itv. pen: ing fl spaced there bout which are p r e dic ular to and communicate w t the. enin 16. in the. member or extension.

The sleeve .3. fits over. the. downwardly ex endns portion or. projection. l8 on the cove co er 4. The. sleeve t3. thus. causes the. format on o two. separate. chambers in t e dev e. nam ly cha ber I9, between. the sleeve. an e. a s. cylinder 3: and the, chamber 211. being the interior of; the sleeve t3.

An opening H is. cut through the. top. cover; l; of. the device to. permit the. passage of the. screw. 22 thereth-rough which extends into the threaded. opening. 23 in the projection or extension M. By; means of; the screw. 22, the various parts. of the. device or apparatus are. held together; If.- de..-.. sidcrd, however, the various parts. may be held. together by. integrally attaching the. sleeve l3. to the projection. Hi and the bottom covert.

the. various part o the appar tus-l exclusive. oi th glass cylinder; s h as t e vers. 4, a d. a an leeve. k may-he mad ir i bl material. w i h s e istant o the Par i ulen iiid or soh tioe'be cs; assed ther r uehf Bs si ably. h wever he ar ous.oart ia rementione man-hemmed. r m any s i ble a t o 9 as. oo olvmer or viny ace a e: n ivmii W 5 3 mals sh i i h 3?.

Referring to the embodiment shown Eig. 2,. the. 11 ibl'e ihleEtubingTm is fastened. tothel' coma/ midexuei qmgporuon 26 attached to the. lle Y It i to be ch d thatin this tan e. he e lsa upward ii n s ho owhortio'n" or conduit}? attached to the bottom cover 5 and communicating with the opening in the, extension orproj ectio'n 'This isnecssa'ry in order to direct the oilwhich may be cam mingled with thettreating fluid away" from the openings I 5. This is the only change in the embddiment over thatshowninFig. 1.

In operation, the device, such as. shown-in Fig. 1, may be inserted anywhere. in the. fluid line.

that is. convenient. Thefiuidenters through the.

projection 9a and, as indicated by. the. arrows, passesthrough .the openings. ti-upwardly through the chamber 201 through the.v openings. LT, and;

on the surface of the treating fluid in the chamber 1.9, In this way it will be readily visible to one looking through the glass cylinder. Preferably. the. lubricating" oil employed in the appashould be colored by any suitable means for easy detection thereof. This is particularly true'when the treating fluid itself may have a slight color.

r A The, present device is advantageous in that it is simple of construction and may readily be inserted'in any existing fluid line. The present device also acts as a trap for the oil which has managed: to leak: into the system and pr vent its. rurther passage through the. system in. come. tact with the. product being produced or bein treated.

. The size. of; the device or fluid leakage. indie cater can. vary: With the capacity. of the fluid line or lines to which it to be connected or with the visibility; of; the liquid which is to bev passed therethrou h- However, although the size. may be. varied, the essential; design, such as. shown in the embodiments of the. drawing, should not be changed appreciably.

It to. be understood that changes. and variaticn s, may be. made without departing from the spiritand scope at the invention as defined in theappended claims.

We. claim:

1. A. fluid leakage indicating device. comprising a transparent cylinder having. a top: cover and a bottom cover, a sleeve positioned. internally of the. cylinder and extending. between the covers, a plurality of slots. in the' bottom edge of the sleeve, a fluid opening communicating with the chamber formed between thecylind'er and sleeve, a projection extending upwardly from the bottom coven into the sleeve, and. a fluid outlet passage e. chamb rm d e ee he Cylinder an 51- 2 nr ieo iool' gi e at a hed to. t

bott in cover and; extending, upwardly therefrom iate hielee a uis l utl t pa sae in th ie i la. and. an o nin in the. pro e onadi cent the top. thereot and, communicating pa sg ge' a. uid. ease-ea. edieai -ne device. s defined in clai n 2;; wherein there are-.meansioriastening the topccver-totheproiection.

4;. A, fluidjeakageindicating device comprising a. transparent cylinder having a top-covenandaf bottom cover, a sleeve positioned internally-ct the. cylinder and; extending between the a. plurality of; slots. in the bottom edge sleeve, a fluid inlet openin in thetopcover-communicating. with the. chamber. formed: between COVBI'S,

e c nde and: sleeve, a. projection integrally ttac ed: tov he bottom. covenand; extend-in zu s Wfiml itle ie li m into. thesleeve, a fluid; imes. Rassae .16.. PDQ'iEQ'GiGh, and an opening-.1

oi the the projection adjacent the top thereof and communicating with the passage.

5. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 4 wherein there are means for fastening the top cover to the projection.

6. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for fastening the top cover to the projection comprises a threaded bore in the top of the projection and a screw passing through the top cover and fastened in the bore.

7. A fluid leakage indicating device comprising a transparent cylinder having a plastic top cover and a plastic bottom cover, a sleeve positioned internally of the cylinder and extendingbetween the covers, a plurality of slots in the bottom edge of the sleeve, a fluid inlet opening in the top cover communicating with the chamber formed between the cylinder and sleeve, a projection integrally attached to the bottom cover and extending upwardly therefrom into the sleeve, a fluid outlet passage in the projection comprising an axial bore, and a plurality of openings in the projection adjacent the top thereof, said openings being perpendicular to and communicating with the axial bore.

8. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim '7 wherein there are means for fastening the top cover to the projection.

9. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for fastening the top cover to the projection comprises a threaded bore in the top of the projection and a screw passing through the top cover and fastened in the threaded bore.

10. A fluid leakage indicating device comprising a transparent cylinder having a top cover and a bottom cover, a downwardly extending portion integrally attached to the top cover and positioned centrally thereof, a sleeve positioned internally of the cylinder and extending between the covers, said sleeve fitting over the said downwardly extending portion of the top cover, a plurality of slots in the bottom edge of the sleeve, a fluid opening communicating with the chamber formed between the cylinder and sleeve, 9. projection integrally attached to the bottom cover and extending upwardly therefrom into the sleeve, a fluid outlet passage in the projection comprising an axial bore, a plurality of openings in the projection adjacent the top thereof, said openings being perpendicular to and communicating with the axial bore, and means for fastening the top cover to the projection.

11. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for fastening the top cover to the projection comprises a threaded bore in the top of the projection and a screw passing through the top cover and fastened in the threaded bore.

12. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 11 wherein the opening communicating with the chamber is a fluid inlet opening in the top cover.

13. A fluid leakage indicating device comprising a transparent cylinder having a top cover and a bottom cover, a downwardly extending portion integrally attached to the top cover and positioned centrally thereof, a sleeve positioned internally of the cylinder and extending between the covers, said sleeve fitting over the said downwardly extending portion of the top cover, a plurality of slots in the bottom edge of the sleeve, conduit means attached to the bottom cover and extending upwardly into the chamber formed between the cylinder and sleeve, a fluid inlet opening in the bottom cover communicating with the conduit means, a projection integrally attached to the bottom cover and extending upwardly therefrom into the sleeve, a fluid outlet passage in the projection comprising an axial bore, a plurality of openings in the projection adjacent the top thereof, said openings being perpendicu lar to and communicating with the axial bore, and means for fastening the top cover to the projection.

14. A fluid leakage indicating device as defined in claim 13 wherein the means for fastening the top cover to the projection comprises a threaded bore in the top of the projection and a screw passing through the top cover and fastened in the threaded bore.

CHARLES W. COX. FRANCIS A. DONOVAN. JOHN T. FRANTZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,311,528 Muir July 29, 1919 1,732,035 White Oct. 15, 1929 1,893,233 Hull Jan. 3, 1933 2,303,109 Boosey Nov. 24, 1942 

